Table 1

Studies included in the analysis

Study
Duration (weeks)
No. in ITT (PR) populations
Main eligibility criteria
COPD medication allowed during the study





Salmeterol
Placebo
Definition
Age (yrs)
FEV1 (% predicted % absolute value)
FEV1/FVC
OCS
ICS
Antichol.
MX

van Noord
12
49 (40)
50 (44)
ATS
40–75
≤65% & ≥ 0.75L
≤60%
Yes
≤ 1 mg/day FP*
No
Yes
Rennard
12
131 (84)
133 (85)
ATS
≥35
≤ 65% & > 0.7L or ≥ 40% & <0.7L
≤70%
≤ 10 mg prednisolone*
Yes
No
No
Mahler
12
135 (78)
143 (90)
ATS
≥35
≤65% & >0.7L or ≥ 40% & <0.7L
≤70%
≤10 mg prednisolone*
Yes
No
No
Boyd
16
228 (221)
227 (215)
ERS
40–75
≤70% & >0.6L
≤60%
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Mahler
24
164 (105)
185 (130)
ATS
≥40
<65% & >0.7L or >40% & ≤0.7L
≤70%
No
No
No
Yes
Hanania
24
176 (112)
185 (118)
ATS
≥40
<65% & > 0.7L or >40% & ≤0.7L
≤70%
No
No
No
Yes
Chapman
24
201 (173)
206 (171)
ERS
≥40
≤85%
≤70%
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Calverley
52
372 (371)
361 (359)
ERS
40–79
≥25%–≤70%
≤70%
Exacerbations
No
Yes
Yes
Stockley
52
316 (292)
318 (304)
ERS
≥40
<70%
Not stated
Exacerbations
≤1 mg/day FP*
Yes
Yes
Pooled
1772 (1476)
1808 (1516)









* or equivalent; ATS: American Thoracic Society; ERS: European Respiratory Society; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in one second; FVC, forced vital capacity; OCS: oral corticosteroids; ICS: inhaled corticosteroids; Antichol: anticholinergics; MX: methylxanthines. FP: fluticasone propionate

Stockley et al. Respiratory Research 2006 7:147   doi:10.1186/1465-9921-7-147